COUNTRY NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17335, 25 November 1916, Page 11

COUNTRY NEWS.

[FhOM OUR CORBESrOXPEXTS.] ASHBURTOX. Although & lighi drizzling rain 101 l at Ashburton throughout most ot Thursday night, only Hi points were registered at the Domain weather statiou yesterday morningAt Longbea'ch tho fall totalled i 3 points. Although only enough to damp tho surface, it has had a beneficial effect on. ail c.aases of vegetation. A uiiitpio gathering was held in tho Baringf Square .Methodist Church, Ashburton, yesterday afternoon, when the old residents ot tho district were asked to be present to meet the Rev Vat Trigge, who is at •present, holding a mission in the church. The church, which was crowded, contained 34 man and women over seventy years, of age, 12 over eights-, and two over eighty-six years. The oldest resident of tho district was Mrs Steele, whs is over eighty-seven years of age. A prize for tho person longest married went to her husband, the aged couple having been married sixty year*. There was eight old people present, who haa been married Jifty years. -Mr Brooker won the prize for having resided longest in tho iJominion, having been born here seventy-five years ago. There were sixteen persons who had resided fifty-five years, in New Zealand, and five with a record' ot sixty-five years. Mr ft. J. Hughes was awarded the prize for having resided longest in the district between Christchurch an'' Timaru, his term being sixty-eight years. Each prize winner wag presented with a handsome bouquet, and thono present were entertained to afternoon tea by the lady members of the church. At tto termination of the gathering a photograph of the old people was taken. LYXXFORD. ' The first consignment of cheese front the new cheese factory recently erected at B;acK Bridge, Lynn ford, will ba forwarded for shipment from Ashburton to-day. ' AKAKOA. A ver\" successful rose show was he'.d on Thursda'v, in tho Oddfellows' Rail, Akaroa. Tho beautiful blooms staged showed fully how suitable the Peninsula, is for flower culture, Mr W. K. Virtuejudged the exhibits. A special meeting of the Akaroa Boating Club was held on Monday, at tho boathouse, to consider a, propositi to admit lady members to the'club. There was a- large attendance of members, the captain, Mr M. Kearney, presiding. After a lons discission, tho motion was lost by 11 votes to 12. KAIAPOI. The eighteenth anniversary meeting ana coi-cert of tho Kaiapoi Baptist Church wa.-. held on Thursday c>-cnttig. Pastor E. 'i. Jones presided over «. large attendance. M.W. A. Xorrish read the annua! report, which was of a very encouraging ratine. During the veer £27ohad been raised by special efforts", enabling the officers to pay off half tho church debt, add necessary rittinzs to the church, end provido for lho erection of a social Toem. There had been* a substantia! increase in churcb membership. The report was unanimouftly adopted. The concert pro•rrammo was given by the choir of St Paul s Presbyterian Church, Kaiapoi, and included solos by Mrs H. J. Chapman and Misses M'Kobie and Young, and a number of anthems. Short addresses were delivered by tho Bev John Laird (Spreydon). Bev L. B. busfield (Sydenham) and Pastor H. G. Coring (formerly pastor of tho church, now at Kiccr.rton). Mr A. F. Jameson was warmly tbankld for his services as choirmaster, and wishes were expressed for his happiness end prosperity in his new position at Ashburton The concert performers were accorded a hearty vote of thanks, and were entertained at supper. METHTEX. Tbe suoplv of feed is plentiful aU oyer the Methven 'district, and in that, direction the season can be considered, abnormal -Farmers indicate that in many instances they could carry three times the number of sheep, but are 'unable to purchase them. The wheat crop* give promise of phenomenal yields. A considerable area has now been "own in rape .«„1 tnrnins but manv farmers who have their "Zd worked ore waiting unti the Mil dries in order to sow. Between Methven end Bakaia some; splendid strikes of-turnips mav ba seen. AHboujrh feed potnlres have beer scarce and dear, tho'tubcrs wtTl be exlensivelv crown in the district, this year. jr o*t 0 *t of the ma.in crop-, have now been planted,'and present a flourishing Appearance. . AMBEBLF.Y. Th« fund set aside by the Kowai Council' for Hie purpose of assisting the various Bed CrosV branches in the county having bee,n depleted it has been -necessary for the Ami,?. ey-Broomfielc! Branch to ft**™™?™™ funds to continue the good work which has been carried on for over two years, and as nor ion has been voluntarily guaranteed by P ~, h sera it is still necessary to raise SS n c esses to be fully occupied To this, ena a children's queen carnival will beheld in Am, her er on December 16. and on. Tuesday evenin*a meetinc; was held m the library party Mr Ho!ton presided. The girl queens p i V i «r« Mollv 'Watson' Brackenheldl. ftSii Khtnr, (Amberley) Xo;. »; Rnia M'Leon (BromhficHV Xo. 2. Stallholders were appointed as follow:—\\ otk stall, Me«dames HoUor,. Fairwenther and Famham: flowers and produce. Me.dames M,lner. Snencer and Mason: sweets Miss Hair; Christmas tree Miss Parsins;; b»n rub. Mrs Williams; fish -pond. Misses Hadler and KnoX: ice-cream, Mrs Marsh; mavpo e dance Mesdamcs W. Thompson and Busk-. A programme of sports and competitions w«s decided upon. ,